Doug Ratner and the Watchmen ready new album, appearance at Warped Tour

These are heady times for local band Doug Ratner and the Watchmen as the group is gearing up for what promises to be a productive 2012.

The band is getting ready to release a new recording and was recently awarded a slot on the Warped Tour show in New Jersey on July 22.

“We actually won a competition held by Ernie Ball (guitar string manufacturer),” said Ratner. “The process was done partially by fan voting, and a panel of industry judges based on your music. The gig was in July, and it was nuts. It was the Nassau County Coliseum in Long Island.”

The band is also finalizing work on a new EP that will herald a new direction for Ratner as a songwriter.

“I made a decision that I don’t want to write songs about myself anymore,” he said. “My life is fine and there are other people in this world who are seeking answers, liberation, and hope. I want to follow in the footsteps of my idols, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Peter Townshend, and write music that embodies a bigger picture of society.”

Ratner says the five songs on the recording represent a different societal issue that he feels needs attention.

“Things like depression, bullying, suicide, greed, and gender roles,” he said. “It’s very heavy. For example, there is a song called ‘Bomb in the Backseat’ that tells the tale of a deranged, reclusive young kid who hates his life. He thinks the world is out to get him and as a result, he’s built a bomb via an app on his phone. It’s quite sad, but the truth is, kids like this exist, and as musicians, it’s our job to provide some light in the dark corners of their minds.”

The band is using Kickstarter, an online fundraising platform, to help develop the project.

“The idea is to try and get both fans and random strangers who might feel connected to this cause to donate something to the campaign,” said Ratner. “It goes to paying off the EP, plus the t-shirts, stickers, and new website.”

Doug Ratner and the Watchmen will play Shenanigans in Westfield on Friday, Jan. 20. Follow them online and contribute to their EP project at dougratner.com.